Howdy. I just joined and have a few questions.

[malikg]

(Doesn't everybody? heh heh)

First of all, I was wondering what PvP in this game is like. Will I be hopelessly destroyed by someone a few levels higher than me? Around when can someone begin being effective at PvP?

Second, I was wondering if there were any guides around to help me make my character so I don't make huge mistakes and end up gimping myself.

Third, what server do you all think would be best to start on?

Thanks.

[thlau]

First of all, I was wondering what PvP in this game is like. Will I be hopelessly destroyed by someone a few levels higher than me? Around when can someone begin being effective at PvP?

There are no level caps in PvP, so on a one on one fight you maybe will be hopeless if you encounter a level 250 elemental mage on a distance of 30m, while you are a level 70 fighter.
It is difficult to say when to start PvP best. During outpost fights I saw combatants from level 50 to 250.

Second, I was wondering if there were any guides around to help me make my character so I don't make huge mistakes and end up gimping myself.

You can't really gimp your character, you only can slow your development down a bit. With the given time, you can become level 250 in every branch of each of the four skill trees.

Third, what server do you all think would be best to start on?

This depends on which languages you speak.

Aniro - french
Arispotle - english
Leanon - german

Arispotle is the international server.

Welcome to Atys
Trini

[vguerin]

First of all, I was wondering what PvP in this game is like. Will I be hopelessly destroyed by someone a few levels higher than me? Around when can someone begin being effective at PvP?

There are several different ways to be involved in PvP.

You can "duel", choose a one on one fight... you often decide with your opponent what skills will be used.

You can be involved in an OP battle, your role determines your involvement and you can (and often will) be facing some of the greatest warriors in all the lands.

You can be in a PvP zone, subject to attack or be attacked by anyone of any level.

You may enter the Matis Arena, FFA zone...

[malikg]

Sounds cool to me. For PvP, would a level 200 get devastated by a level 250, or is there more to it than just the level of your character?

[acridiel]

Lookee here for some good guides. You may have to bring up Threads older than 6 Month, but if you manage this those are realy good.



Welcome to Atys

Acridiel

[sehracii]

Sounds cool to me. For PvP, would a level 200 get devastated by a level 250, or is there more to it than just the level of your character?

In one on one PvP a 50 lvl higher has a huge advantage that will be hard to overcome. However most fights are at least small team based which is much more forgiving to lvl discrepancies and organization can make the difference.

Outpost battles are mass PvP and I encourage anyone interested to start right at lvl 50. Even if it's jsut healing from the back to start, it's fun and good experience.

[malikg]

Thanks.

I guess my main concern really is... to what extent does how you play your character have to do with the outcome of the fight? Is it possible to be good at PvP, or is it like most MMO's where it's just your level/equipment talking when you kill someone. I'm interested in a PvP scene that at least engages YOU into fighting as well as your level/equipment.

[iphdrunk]

Thanks.

I guess my main concern really is... to what extent does how you play your character have to do with the outcome of the fight? Is it possible to be good at PvP, or is it like most MMO's where it's just your level/equipment talking when you kill someone. I'm interested in a PvP scene that at least engages YOU into fighting as well as your level/equipment.

Good question and one of the drawbacks of PvP in ryzom. With a fair, not rocket science, knowledge of game mechanics, PvP in ryzom is mainly driven by gear and level (talking about one on one duels)

Your knowledge of the game will impact the tweaking of your actions, selection of your stanzas and a good setting of the credits without wasting sap/stam/hp pools ; the best selection of a reduced number of skills and the best timing for using them.

It's not as dumb as click the "I attack/I win" button, but there are no advanced things like targetting - no need to target your opponent -, no need to keep a range distance, combos, timing, out of range, limited possiblity of using consumables, limited number of defensive actions (parry and dodge being automatic, "miss" actions happening randomly, etc). In a 1on1 melee fight, your options reduce to the use of well selected actions (4-5 of them, according to credits available, favoring use of one pool or another) and the timed activation of a reduced number of "powerselfs" which you can basically use once during the spawn of the duel. There is more room for optimizing *pre* fight if you happen to know the weapon, the jewel resists and armor and style of your opponent than actual "real-time" fight -- which also lasts only typically a few seconds (10-20)

I admit tho, that even with this *limited* strategy, it can still affect the outcome of the duel. But without considering the blatant unbalance of in game classes (for several setups, it does not matter how skilled you are, you will hit the floor unless your opponent sits down and gets naked), the most skilled player will raaarely beat a player given a level delta.

My (humble) opinion is PvP in Ryzom has little to no strategy, unless it's team based -- even that strategy is reduced -- and driven by gear and level. PvP is very present in the game, but as a game feature/mechanic, not one of the strongest points of the game. I've had the pleasure of talking to avid PvPrs / ladder addicts -- mainly from diablo and similar games -- and most seem to agree.

[malikg]

Would you say it's worth a try?

Also, in the areas that are open PvP, how likely are you to run into other people to kill, and would it be to your benefit to kill them? Do they LOSE anything or do you GAIN anything for the kill, or is it just a meaningless boost of ego to annoy someone by killing them?

[iphdrunk]

Would you say it's worth a try?

Worth a try, yes... wears off soon? imho yes, too. -- Cfr. my previous post-- as a simple example: when I started playing around with duels with oldies after each major change, I was thinking that the use of combinations mastering elemental, defensive afflictions and offensive afflictions could mean an important advantange, and it was, for a while. After the jewel resist upgrade, the difficulty of successfully setting up a link, and the randomness of some actions (e.g. if you happen to cast madness on the opponent, link and hold, he *may* hit himself) makes it, imho, not worth even trying. Better hit the "uberdoublenukeofdoom" or you'll be wasting precious time trying to get some nice fx effects. There is some room for improement in a lot of PvP related aspects. I think it's much more geared towards mass-pvp (and then we hit a related problem, the outcome is driven by numbers) than duels.

Also, in the areas that are open PvP, how likely are you to run into other people to kill,

Likely? well, if you *look for* you'll find. Trying to give an unbiased/unbalanced view, not judging: until now, this has been very frowned upon, for historical reasons (don't forget the game started in a cooperative setup). Unjustified -- for no reason -- attacks or attacks driven by greed( I kill you so I get the goodies) are considered bad behavior, and ganking. It does not matter what is / is not allowed by the game mechanics, if it's your behavior what matters and, if you decide to use your rights of attaking a player in a PvP area, be ready to assume the consequences.

and would it be to your benefit to kill them? Do they LOSE anything or do you GAIN anything for the kill, or is it just a meaningless boost of ego to annoy someone by killing them?

Without considering the Outposts, mainly the latter with no other impact -- specially not looting a dead body, no ear collection-- Developers will eventually enable "faction/racial honor points", as a reward. Specific events can be seen as a PvP ladder. Right now, dueling only wears off your equipment. Healthy PvP can be fun, but PvP has drawbacks.